Cannington College has recorded 75 bird species and more than 147,000 bird calls as part of an innovative biodiversity monitoring project that is providing new insights into wildlife across the campus.
The project, led by staff and students from the Animal Management and Equine department in collaboration with Higher Education Animal Management, Ecology and Conservation students, is using acoustic monitoring technology to identify species and track wildlife activity. Working alongside environmental specialists Wilder Sensing, the college has gathered detailed data from habitats across the campus, including woodland, wetlands, farmland, orchards and wildflower areas.
Early findings have been particularly encouraging, with the project recording:
- 75 bird species
- 147,724 bird calls
- A 10% increase in species richness
- A 41% increase in activity
- 15 Red List species of conservation concern
The initiative gives students valuable hands-on experience in ecological surveying, data collection and environmental monitoring while contributing to a growing understanding of local biodiversity.
These results demonstrate the incredible biodiversity that exists across our campus and the important role colleges can play in environmental stewardship. What makes this project especially exciting is that students are at the heart of it, using industry-relevant technology and contributing to meaningful conservation research. We are only at the beginning of this journey and look forward to discovering even more about the wildlife that calls Cannington home.
Debbie Ball
Deputy Head of Animal Management and Equine, Cannington College
The monitoring programme will continue throughout the year, helping to shape future habitat management and conservation initiatives across the college estate.
For more information, please visit canningtoncollege.ac.uk or contact the Communications team at UCS College Group the communicationsteam@ucscollegegroup.ac.uk or on 01278 441216.